Arnold Gets New Deal At WEEI

The longtime WEEI host, who had been working without a contract since reuniting with one-time on-air partner Michael Holley on the afternoon drive program in March, has signed a new multi-year deal contract to remain with the program.

It’s been quite a comeback for Arnold at WEEI after a tumultuous couple of years. Arnold began at WEEI in 1991 and had a long run in the midday, where his co-hosts included Holley.

That program was broken up in February 2011 when Holley, whose contract was expiring, was shifted to the more prominent and lucrative afternoon drives, where he initially paired with Glenn Ordway. Arnold was demoted to a part-time fill-in role while taking on a bigger role at NESN as part of the network’s Bruins coverage.

Ordway was fired in February 2013 and replaced by Mike Salk, a Sudbury native who arrived from ESPN 710 in Seattle. Salk’s pairing with Holley was a disaster, and the former abruptly resigned in March 2013 to return to the Seattle station as program director.

Arnold became the chief fill-in host in the interim after , then became the primary co-host — but without a new contract — later that March.

The Dale and Holley show, which also features Jerry Thornton a couple of hours per day, has seen significant progress in the Nielsen Audio ratings, though rival 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Felger and Massarotti program dominates the time slot.

In the fall ratings, the Felger and Massarotti show was first for the 10th straight ratings period with a 13.6 share. But the Dale and Holley program was second with an 8.0.

Holley’s contract is up in February. Entercom Boston vice president and market manager Phil Zachary indicated that he is optimistic a deal will get done.